Tranquil haven
WE GET THE LOWDOWN ON A CYPRIOT STAR – THE BEAUTIFUL ANNABELLE HOTEL IN PAPHOS
THE VIBE
As warm and welcoming as the people of Cyprus, the Annabelle exudes high-quality vibrancy and variety, with service from the heart amid six acres of lush gardens.
It has been a star of the Cypriot hospitality scene for more than 30 years – and was the first five-star hotel to open in Paphos – but was reinvented with a €10million transformation in April 2018. The numerous regularly returning guests tell their own story too.
THE STYLE
Timeless class, unpretentious yet bang on trend, the property showcases the work of the island artisans, craftsmen and women who hand made the bespoke furniture.
Fresh finishing touches from the makeover include a new rooftop pool, bar and restaurant, wellness centre and 26 new bedrooms, including five duplex suites and one superior suite, each offering spectacular views of the Mediterranean.
Rooms reflect the hotel’s colonialchic charm, coupled with a contemporary twist.
Expect cool white walls and Mediterranean-hued fabrics sitting alongside wooden furnishings and traditional shuttered doors – and some rooms with private pools.
THE FOOD
Ouranos Lounge & Bar serves up tapas-style dishes for sharing, alongside healthy salads and an afternoon tea.
Its terrace offers wide-reaching views of the sea and Paphos Castle, and is the perfect spot for a Ouranos – meaning ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’ – signature cocktail, or a choice of more than 1,000 gin and tonic combinations, crafted from 62 distinctive gins, seven premium tonics and numerous garnishes.
Mediterraneo is a haven for Italian gastronomic tradition, with sharing plates of fresh-from-thefields ingredients served at rustic wooden tables.
Regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Cyprus, Amorosa offers modern, international cuisine with an elegant twist. The illuminated poolside creates an unforgettable signature fine-dining experience.
Head to Fotana for bountiful al fresco breakfasts on the shady terrace and daily-changing casual evening eats, using local seasonal ingredients, while Asteras offers an intimate, candle-lit gourmet venue ideal for weddings, romantic dinners and small private events (open on selected nights in summer only).
THE SPA
The state-of-the-art Ouranos Wellbeing Spa is on the top floor with uninterrupted sea views over the Blue Flag beach.
In the four treatment rooms therapists deliver soul enriching treatments with all-natural products made from superfood ingredients such as seaweed and algae, which offer body detoxification benefits and nourishing facials.
Personal training and fitness classes are also available.
THE ACTION
Where to start? There’s plenty to do. Guests can try pony treks, fishing trips, diving lessons, rock climbing, mountain biking, tennis coaching and sailing excursions, plus a kids’ clubs for youngsters aged from four months up to 16 years.
THE SIGHTS
The Annabelle is within walking distance of Paphos Castle, Paphos Archaeological Par – with its remains of four Roman villas – and the town’s nightlife.
The Tombs of the Kings, a large necropolis and a UNESCO world heritage site, is a short taxi ride while Aphrodite’s Rock, the mythological birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is a little further. But if you just stay at the Annabelle, that’s completely understandable!